Inspired by Tommy’s couple video posts today, I thought I’d do one myself.

Consider this collection of videos a warmup for the Netherlands v Japan game kicking off in a couple hours (and also a warmup, perhaps, for the capsule history of Dutch football I’m thinking about writing up).

First, a 2-part compilation of clips.  Cryuff, van Basten, Bergkamp in part 1 (which includes 3 different views of what very well may be my top World Cup memory of all time; but more on that later):

In part 2, Seedorf, van Nistelrooy, Davids, Kluivert:

The latter also includes some clips of the new school that I’m less familiar with–the guys we’ll be seeing play in the coming week(s..one hopes): Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie. In that vein, one more video, which goes through most of the current Dutch starters:

After watching all this, a follower of the Dutch starts to think…if van Persie, Robben and Sneijder are all on their game (in particular, if Robben comes back in form from the injury that kept him out of the game against the Danes)..and play well together with each other, and with Kuyt and the youngster who was the revelation of that first game, Elia…well, then the Dutch attack could rank up there with the Argentinian one as an irresistible force, and perhaps carry them late into the tournament.  Perhaps even to the final..

But such a follower of the Dutch knows better than to get the hopes up too high.  History has also shown that the Dutch campaign will likely end in disappointment.  But history has also shown there will be undoubtedly be moments of sublime, brilliant football along the way–moments which are almost more important than ultimate result, rendering the latter an afterthought.